Muscular policy wont work in Kashmir; what is needed is confidence building measures, says Mehbooba Mufti soon after resigning as CM

This is not a shock for me. This alliance was not for power politics. We still believe in dialogue and reconciliation: Mehbooba Mufti

I submitted my resignation (as J&K CM) to the Governor & told him that we are not looking to explore any other alliance: Mehbooba Mufti

The BJP-PDP alliance was one with a larger vision. Reconciliation was motive of agenda of alliance. Muscular police will not work here: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar:

J&K caretaker CM Mehbooba Mufti said on Tuesday that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) tried their best keep Jammu & Kashmir strong and one. Addressing the press after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke alliance with her party, she said, “I submitted my resignation to the Governor and told him that we are not looking to explore any other alliance… We had formed the alliance with BJP because we shared a grand vision. It took us many months to form an alliance whose prime focus was reconciliation and dialogue.”

She added, “I am not shocked. We didn’t do this alliance for power. This alliance had a bigger motive- unilateral ceasefire, PM’s visit to Pakistan, withdrawal of cases against 11,000 youth… A muscular policy will not work in J&K, we need to talk to everyone, including Pakistan.”

The PDP and the BJP formed a coalition more than two months after the December 2014 elections returned a hung verdict, in which the PDP got 28 seats and the BJP 25, while the National Conference with 15 and Congress managed to win 12 in a House of 89. The government came to power on March 1, 2015.

The BJP on Tuesday pulled out of the PDP-led J&K government, citing growing terror activities and radicalisation in the Valley making its continuance “untenable”. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said, at a press conference, that deputy CM Kavinder Gupta and nine other ministers from the party have tendered their resignation to Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The state leaders were called to the national capital for urgent consultations.

The move came less than a year ahead of the 2019 General Elections and a couple of months after the BJP had replaced its Deputy CM in the wake of outrage over Kathua rape incident. It also came two days after the Centre decided not to continue with the ceasefire.